Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic(LOS ANGELES) -- Avatar director James Cameron says Stephen Lang's character, Colonel Miles Quaritch, will return in the forthcoming sequels. That's a revelation that has fans wondering exactly how because Colonel Quaritch seemed to have met his demise in the original.

“Steven was so memorable in the first film, we’re privileged to have him back,” Cameron tells Deadline.com. “I’m not going to say exactly HOW we’re bringing him back, but it’s a science fiction story, after all. His character will evolve into really unexpected places across the arc of our new three-film saga. I really look forward to working with such a gifted actor, who’s also become a good friend.”

Lang's character was the head of security of Hell's Gate on Pandora and the main villain in the film. Quaritch was eventually killed by Na'vi princess Neytiri, portrayed by Zoe Saldana.

Twentieth Century Fox is set to release three sequels to the blockbuster film, which raked in over $760 million domestically and $2.7 billion worldwide in 2009. The first sequel will be in theaters by December 2016, and the second will follow in December 2017. The third sequel is not expected until 2018, but all three films will be shot at the same time, with production starting next year.